[2] He obtained his B.Proc at the University of Fort Hare in 1977 and went to work for the Durban law firm of Griffiths Mxenge as an articled clerk in 1978.

He spent eight months in solitary confinement in 1981 and was jailed for three years in 1982 for refusing to give evidence in the political trial of Patrick Maqubele and others.

When Ngcuka was released in 1985, he left for Switzerland and worked at the equality of human rights branch of International Labour Organization in Geneva for two years.

Ngcuka was also member of the African National Congress (ANC)'s delegation to Codesa in 1991 and to the multi-party negotiations in Kempton Park from 1992 to 1993.

[4] His wife, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, became the Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs in Thabo Mbeki's cabinet, and later Deputy President of South Africa.